Not franchise money? Have you seen what happened to the Oilers since he left?

Have you seen what's happened to them since 11 regulars got injured? Smyh was not the difference, give me a break and I'm sick of people saying that. If the Oilers really relied on a guy like Smyth then that says what kind of a team they really were.

Honestly, I would give him around 3.3 million. I never thought he was all that great. I know you all think i'm crazy but I just think that he wasn't as good as people thought he was. He may have a lot of points and has a good attitude, but I think that he isn't a great all around player.

I put him in the $4.5 million mark. Here is a list of players that are making between $4 million and $4.5 million. He certainly fits in this group. I would say in the top 25% of this list. The one's in bold are the one's I consider better than Smyth. The others, he is as good as or better.

I'd pay him from 4 - 4.5 million. I know that he's the heart and soul, but there's no way he's worth as much as 5.5 mil, to even 6 million. I highly doubt there's a team that will sign him for that much in the off-season, even Edmonton. However, i hope that we get Ryan Smyth back

I put him in the $4.5 million mark. Here is a list of players that are making between $4 million and $4.5 million. He certainly fits in this group. I would say in the top 25% of this list. The one's in bold are the one's I consider better than Smyth. The others, he is as good as or better.

Here is the list of $3-3.5 million/year players. I would put Smyth at the top of this list easily. Afinogenov and Drury are the only players on this list that come close to Smyth, and I don't think either are better players.

PS-These are numbers for this years salaries. Doan, for example, will make $4.6 million next year. Still, Smyth is a better player in my opinion. Doan is one of those guys who will be overpaid next year.

How is Smyth better than Afinogenov?? Smyth has 66 points in 68 games. Max has 57 and hasn't played since February. He has nearly as many points in a lot fewer games. On that pace he would've passed Smyth by a lot by now had he been healthy.

Mik, it takes more than points to be considered a better player. Do not even attempt to say that Afinegenov can hold a candle to Smyth defensively, on the the PK, or as a gritty hard nosed digger. And read the post again. I gave him props as close. I love Afineganov.

I wouldn't pay Smyth anything over 4million. I don't think that he has enough "impact" in terms of being able to turn a game around by scoring or producing points in a key situation. With that said, I am not taking anything away from him, cause I do like him, but he is just more of a "team geling" player. He plays with A LOT of heart.